San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1887-10-06
Hon. Gustave Cooks Views as to the
Enforcement OF Law.

Enforcement OF Law.
To the Sherits and ConstabMlavy o,
Galreston and Harris counties:
I am informed that the laws OF the
state with reference to pursuing oc
equations taxed by law and what il
known as the Sunday law are being
habitually violated in these counties
The violation Of these laws is az
criminal rs the violation of any other
upon the statute book. 1t is your
duty to arrest all persons who may
be concerned, principals, agents and
employees in these violations, and
this you may and should do upon the
instant, even without warrant, when
committed in your presence. After
arrest you should carry them before
the nearest magistrate, etc., as di'
rected by statute. You know your
duty in this regard and are entitled
to the instructions of. the district at,
torney. It is further your duty when
you believe an offense is being, OF
about to be committed, to presen,
yourself and arrest the parties or pre-
vent the offense. You should exer,
yourself to discover these offenses
and the offenders and take them be.
fore the proper authorities. 1t is
none of your business what Judge
ment may be rendered by the court
except to enforce it as you may be
required by law to do. AS often as
an offense is committed by the same
party the same duty devolves on you
to arrest him or them and to take al
lawful steps to prevent a repetition
of the offense. Where parties are
arrested you should put them in jail
until relieved by due course of law,
and you have no right to make any
exception to this. In taking bonds,
where the law provides for you to do
so. you are responsible that they be
well and sufficiently secured. 1t is
your duty to arrest all parties con.
cerned in any manner, making them
principals, accomplices or accessories,
and to take them to Jail or before an
officer. And you have no right tc
take any other bail than such asis pre-
scribed by law. If you know of any
officer who is guilty of any neglect Of
duty in this regard, it is your duty
to report it to the proper authority
I desire to say to you all that am
fully determined the scandalous state
of things'said now to exist in Harris
and Galveston counties upon this
subject shall cease to exist if it is in
my power to bring it about, and while
I fully appreciate the position I occu-
py and shall try and do no act that
will derogate from its responsibility,
I intend that these laws shall be en-
forced or exploded. No man that
violates the law willfully is q good
citizen, nor is he entitled to any con-
sideration other than that due. a
criminal, and the higher he stands
socially or financially the deeper the
descent. AS all men are equal before
the law, all men should be treated
precisely in the same manner by the
officers of the law. No officer has
the right to consider the social or
financial standing of criminal, and
no good officer will. Do your duty,
and if others who are charged with
duties neglect theirs it is no fault OF
yours, nor does it in manner reflect
on or relieve you. Hold up your
own hands and do not wait for others
to do it for you. You have no right
to ask encouragement or to be dis
couraged, and when your advised to
the contrary you are badly counseled.
The district attorney of this district
has both the moral and physical cour
age to do his duty as we'll as the
highest ability, and to him and him
alone should you apply for assistance
and such encouragement as the law
entities you TO. Search ont crime
and arrest the criminals and bring
them before the authorities. Leave
DO stone unturned in preserving the
law and trust to your own conscience
for encouragement Public sympa-
thy, or public expression, or public
opinion do not furnish any rule Of
action to an officer sworn TO execute
the law. Follow the law with q vigi-
ant and diligent discharge Of every
duty under il, and whatever spite,
prejudice or i'll will may be excited
IN the minds of few law breakers,
you will be overwhelmed by the com
Of your own conscience
md the great body Of the people,
Who are law-abiding.